La Riviera of Sunsets It is one of the most recognisable tourist destinations in Calabria Tyrrhenian. It coincides with the Falcone and Borsellino promenade by Lamezia Terme (CZ) and has been, since 2012, the home of the Colour Fest. The 14th edition of the festival, scheduled for the’11, 12 and 13 August 2026 with the slogan Summer on a Solitary Beach. But where does the name come from? Riviera of Sunsets, because the seafront is named after Falcone and Borsellino and what makes this corner of Calabria The perfect place for three days of music by the sea? This guide brings together history, geography and practical information.

The name ‘Riviera dei Tramonti’: sunsets over the Tyrrhenian Sea

The name Riviera of Sunsets It speaks for itself: this is one of the few Italian coastlines west-facing, with the The Tyrrhenian Sea in front of and the Aeolian Islands on the horizon. Overlooking the Gulf of St. Euphemia, every evening offers a sunset that plunges straight into the sea. On the clearest days, the outline of the Stromboli: the sun, in August, descends behind the volcanoes of the Aeolian bestowing those ten minutes of golden light that give the whole Riviera its name.

It’s not just brochure-style rhetoric. The west-facing aspect genuinely changes the experience of those who spend time on the beach: the best part of the day coincides with the’aperitif …and with the opening of the festival, rather than early in the morning. That is why, at the Colour Fest, the sunset is not just a detail but almost a stage: the Tramonti Stage (CUPRA Stage) It takes its name from this very natural spectacle.

The name Riviera of Sunsets It’s now official: it has been adopted by the Province of Catanzaro at September 2018 to identify this stretch of coastline and promote it as a tourist destination.

The Falcone and Borsellino Promenade: a testament to civic memory

The Seafront by Lamezia Terme is dedicated to magistrates Giovanni Falcone e Paolo Borsellino, killed in the 1992 in the Capaci and Via D’Amelio massacres. It is a bold choice for a region such as the Calabria: the naming links the city’s busiest public space to the civil memory and the fight against the mafia. Hosting an independent music festival here is therefore not a neutral affair. It means giving back a symbolic place to the community, filling it every summer with culture, participation and presence.

The Colour Fest stems from this realisation. The organising association, What Are Clouds APS, has been working in the area since 2012 with the idea that the independent culture could serve as a base: for one weekend a year, the Falcone and Borsellino promenade It has become a national benchmark for those seeking experimental and avant-garde music, as well as new talent.

Lamezia Terme: the town of the three hamlets

To understand the Riviera of Sunsets You need to get to know the city where it’s held. Lamezia Terme It is a young municipality, but one with ancient roots: it was officially established on 4 January 1968 resulting from the merger of three separate centres — Nicastro, Sambiase e Sant'Eufemia Lamezia. A pioneering initiative in Italy, established by law to create a stronger urban centre capable of making the most of the region’s resources.

Each of the three villages retains its own identity:

• Nicastro — the historic and commercial heart of the city, dominated by the Norman-Swabian Castle (11th–12th centuries), perched on a rocky outcrop in the San Teodoro district.
• Sambiase — a region with a strong agricultural tradition, famous for its historic Baths of Charon, sulphurous waters known since ancient times.
• Sant'Eufemia Lamezia — the most recent part, which has grown up around the railway station and today overlooking the plain and the sea.

The origins of the area, however, go back much further: in the Lametina Plain Some scholars place the ancient Greek city of Terina, founded by settlers from Crotone, whilst the name Nicastro derives from Greek-Byzantine Neo Castrum (“new castle”). Layers of history that coexist with the Calabria contemporary.

Geography: between the sea and the mountains

La Riviera of Sunsets covers an area of approximately 25 kilometres by Costa, from Curinga southwards as far as Nocera Terinese to the north, in Province of Catanzaro. It includes 18 municipalities nestled between the sea and the hills, and overlooking the Gulf of St. Euphemia, situated between the mouths of the rivers Beloved e Savuto.

Geographically, it is a strip narrow between the Tyrrhenian and the inland features: behind the coastline, the plain of Sant'Eufemia boasts a very long agricultural history characterised by olive trees, vineyards e citrus fruits. The beaches are wide, with light-coloured sand mixed with fine gravel, and the seabed drops off rapidly: the sea is clean and suitable for swimming just a few metres from the shore. It is exactly the “solitary beach” as evoked by the festival’s slogan.

What to see around the Riviera

Those arriving for the Colour Fest It can turn the weekend into a mini-break. Just a few minutes from the Seafront are located at the Norman-Swabian Castle by Nicastro, the Baths of Charon in Sambiase, the hillside villages of the Sila and numerous beaches on the Tyrrhenian coast, such as those in Gizzeria e Falerna. To put together the full itinerary, we’ve gathered some tips on the following pages What to do in Calabria e Summer in Calabria.

How to get to the Riviera dei Tramonti

One of the great advantages of the Falcone and Borsellino promenade is its accessibility, which is rare for a seaside festival:

• By plane — the’Lamezia Terme International Airport is the main airport of the Calabria, with direct flights to major Italian and European cities, just a few minutes from the Riviera.
• By Train — the station Lamezia Terme Central It is a high-speed rail hub on the Tyrrhenian line, with Frecce and Intercity services stopping there.
• By Car — the exit Lamezia Terme on the motorway A2 Mediterranean is just a few kilometres from the Seafront; the festival’s transport partner is CUPRA.

Once at the beach, the Seafront provides beach facilities, areas campsite, food and drink featuring local produce, and spaces where you can enjoy the festival from dawn until late into the night.

Color Fest 14 on the Riviera dei Tramonti

It is against this backdrop that the’14th edition of Colour Fest: three days — 11, 12 and 13 August 2026 — and four stages spread out between the beach and the pine forest, with the Colour Market to round off the experience. The 2026 international line-up features names such as Apparat e Django Django, alongside C'mon Tigre, Sebastien Tellier, The Zen Circus, Dimartino and many others, with various acts performing on their one-off dates in the South. The full programme is available on the’hub line-up 2026.

The Colour Fest chose this one coast since its launch in 2012 for a specific reason: to promote independent culture in a place that deserved more than just a tourist label. Fourteen years on, the festival and the seafront have grown together: today Riviera of Sunsets evokes music, the sea and the civil defence unit, a rare balance within the landscape of southern Italian festivals.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Riviera dei Tramonti

Where is the Riviera dei Tramonti?

La Riviera of Sunsets It is the stretch of Tyrrhenian coastline along the Province of Catanzaro, in Calabria, overlooking the Gulf of St. Euphemia. It stretches for about 25 km from Curinga a Nocera Terinese and has its centre in the Falcone and Borsellino promenade by Lamezia Terme.

Why is it called the Riviera dei Tramonti?

Because it’s a coastline west-facing: every evening the sun sets directly over the The Tyrrhenian Sea, behind the Aeolian Islands. On clear days, you can see the outline of the Stromboli on the horizon. The name has been official since September 2018, adopted by the Province of Catanzaro.

To whom is the Lamezia Terme seafront dedicated?

The seafront is named after the magistrates Giovanni Falcone e Paolo Borsellino, murdered by the Mafia in 1992. It is a choice of civil memory that the Colour Fest It is relaunched every year, transforming the space into a hub of culture.

When is the 2026 Colour Fest taking place on the Riviera dei Tramonti?

The Colour Fest 14 the’11, 12 and 13 August 2026 on Falcone and Borsellino promenade by Lamezia Terme, with four stages and an international line-up. Tickets start at 35 euro.

How do you get to the Riviera dei Tramonti?

It is easy to get to: the’Lamezia Terme Airport and the station Lamezia Terme Central (High-Speed Rail) are just a few minutes away, whilst by car the motorway exit A2 Lamezia is very close to the Seafront.

Experience the Riviera dei Tramonti at Color Fest 14

Three days of music by the sea, four stages and the most beautiful sunsets in Calabria The following are waiting for you:’11, 12 and 13 August 2026. The Full subscriptions They’re running out: it’s best to act now. For those looking for accommodation, the Camping Ulisse (70 euros) is sold out for 12 and 13 August, but the Lido La Baia (60 euros). Single-day tickets from 35 euro at Ticketmaster.

👉 Buy your ticket for Color Fest 14 now and book your place on the Riviera of Sunsets.

Color Fest XIV - 11 / 12 / 13 August 2026 - Lamezia Terme - Lungomare Falcone e Borsellino - Riviera dei Tramonti - Calabria. Summer on a Solitary Beach.

Tickets and Info: https://colorfest.it/biglietti-info/